Nachman Ash

Health Min: Violence against doctors has become a scourge

Health Ministry officials respond to assault on doctor with a metal rod at a Clalit office/

Monkeypox scare:

Prof. Nachman Ash: 'This isn't COVID-2'

"We're considering vaccinating those at risk with smallpox vaccine," says former COVID czar.

Health Min. official: Coronavirus pandemic may be subsiding

Prof. Nachman Ash, Health Min. Dir. Gen., says infection rate likely to remain at several thousand daily.

COVID cases still rising but number of seriously ill stable

Prof. Nachman Ash: "We'll be able to lift face mask requirements soon."

Health Min. official:

'Drop in number of coronavirus cases slowing, but still a drop'

New subvariant is not Deltacron, but a mix of the two Omicron strains, Health Min.'s Prof. Nachman Ash says.

Health Min. official:

'Omicron wave isn't over, numbers still higher than other waves'

Prof. Nachman Ash, Health Min. Director General, warns, 'Omicron causes mild illness, but number of serious cases is high.'

Health Min. to hold press conference banning conversion therapy

Minister Nitzan Horowitz and Health Min. Dir. to hold press briefing tomorrow banning treatment for changes in sexual orientation.

Health Ministry Chief:

'Almost guaranteed that the virus will never disappear'

'New variants will constantly arise,' says Israeli Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash, emphasizing that COVID is here to stay.

New BA.2 subvariant may be more infectious than Omicron

'Around 10% of COVID-19 tests sequenced are the BA.2 variant,' Health Min. Director General says.

Health Min. approves 4th vaccine dose for at-risk adults

Prof. Nachman Ash approves expansion of of administration of 4th vaccine doses beyond citizens over 60.

Health Ministry chief:

'This may be end of the pandemic - if there are no new variants'

Director-General of Israeli Health Ministry cautiously optimistic Omicron variant could mark end of COVID pandemic.

Health Min. official:

'We might be able to cancel quarantine for children'

'If we don't see unusual outbreak of PIMS in other countries, we may change quarantine rules for children,' top Health Min. official says.

Health Ministry chief:

Mass quarantines crushing Israeli economy

Nachman Ash explains need to cut duration of COVID quarantine, citing huge number of new cases and quarantines.

Health Ministry chief:

'If case numbers rise, we'll have to consider lockdown'

Prof. Nachman Ash says next week is "critical" in terms of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Fifth COVID Wave:

Israel okays 4th jab, partially restores outdoor mask mandate

Health Ministry chief Nachman Ash says decision reached to move forward with second booster shot for people with impaired immune systems.

Health Ministry chief: Mandatory vaccinations a possibility

Health Ministry Director-General Nachman Ash says universal vaccine mandate currently not necessary - but says it is still on the table.

COVID Czar: We're in control of the situation

Seven cases of Omicron variant confirmed in Israel. "We only have limited information on new variant; vaccine remains useful," Zarka says.

Health Ministry chief approves children's vaccines

Prof. Nachman Ash accepts recommendation of Ministry of Health expert teams to vaccinate children aged 5-11 against COVID-19.

Health Ministry chief: Herd immunity is within reach

Professor Nachman Ash believes the vaccines for children will arrive in Israel in the coming days.

Health Ministry Director General receives security detail

Police increase security around Prof. Nachman Ash amid threats against top health officials.

US citizens to enter Israel without green pass

Authorities intend to reopen the borders to foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated as early as November.

Has COVID 4.0 ended? We'll know by next week

Prof. Nachman Ash notes continued drop in cases, credits booster shot campaign.

Israel won't have a fifth COVID wave, predicts health chief

Health Ministry Director-General and former COVID czar Nachman Ash says COVID pandemic not likely to surge again.

'Coronavirus infection rates higher than we've ever seen'

'Downward trend at a standstill, but still no drop in the number of severely ill coronavirus patients,' Health Min. Director General says.

10,000 new COVID cases, Coefficient of infection rises

Nearly 700 patients remain in serious condition, death toll rises to 7,338.

Further drop in number of new COVID cases

4,975 new cases diagnosed compared to 9,749 the day before. 697 patients are in serious condition.

Health Ministry Director:

'We will have a lockdown if serious cases continue to rise'

Health Ministry Director-General Prof. Nachman Ash says third vaccine doses must reduce case numbers this week or there will be a lockdown.

COVID Czar: Outline for safe High Holiday prayers

Prof. Nachman Ash calls on public to get vaccinated. 'The number of verified people reaches new highs every day.'

Health Ministry Dir. Gen.:'Lockdown may be at the end of August

'We will need to make a decision in two or three weeks, maybe even in August,' Health Min. Director General says.

Health Ministry chief: 'Green pass' won't make a difference

Director general of Ministry of Health to hospital directors: Additional measures to prevent COVID-19 spread will be taken.

Health Min. Director: Rise in COVID cases troubling

Prof. Nachman Ash hopes green passport restrictions will reduce outbreak as number of serious COVID cases surpasses 100.

Holiday Lockdown:

Israel may impose lockdown during holidays, health chief warns

Director-General of Israeli Health Ministry says government is considering imposing a new lockdown during holiday season.

Health Ministry chief: Don't travel abroad unless it's vital

Policies regarding travel & quarantine likely to change, warns Health Ministry director-general.

New study shows vaccine efficacy in preventing serious illness

Study shows vaccine gives between 2 and 8 times more protection from serious case of Covid-19.

Health Ministry chief: I'm against attacking refusers

Professor Nachman Ash: The vaccine is important, but I don't believe in attacking those who refuse to get it.

Health Min. official: '1,400 new cases were diagnosed yesterday'

'Challenge at airport is to reduce infections, while at the same time we want to allow exit from Israel,' Health Min. Director General says.

Prof. Ash: 'This is not the time to travel abroad'

Health Ministry director-general admits vaccines declining in efficacy: "We have yet to understand why."

Health Ministry Director General: Holiday lockdown a possibility

Director General of the Ministry of Health, Prof. Nachman Ash, says a lockdown could be imposed during the high holidays.

Health Ministry chief signs order shortening quarantine

Prof. Nachman Ash signs amendment that will make it possible to shorten the isolation to seven days subject to two negative tests.

COVID Czar: No decision on 3rd vaccine yet

Prof. Nachman Ash says mistake in published data showed more negative COVID tests than were taken, artificially lowering positivity rate.

'Delta variant means we need a lot more people vaccinated'

Whether current measures stop outbreak 'really depends on the public's cooperation,' Health Min. Director General says.

Coronavirus Czar tapped to lead Israel's Health Ministry

Nachman Ash, chief of Israel's COVID efforts, appointed to head Health Ministry after current chief, Hezi Levy, announces his resignation.

115 COVID diagnoses yesterday, Tel Aviv declared yellow city

COVID Czar says fewer restrictions will be imposed if increase in cases does not lead to serious illnesses and hospitalization.

Indoor mask mandate to be reimposed next week

Coronavirus Czar Prof. Nachman Ash recommends public begin wearing masks indoors now even before mandate is reinstated.

'We can't say we are in control of the outbreak'

Health Ministry officials warn even people who have been vaccinated or recovered can be infected with new COVID strain.

Are we on the way to lockdown? Drive-thru testing is back

COVID Czar admits latest outbreaks have yet to be contained.

Coronavirus Czar: We may need to reimpose restrictions

Top COVID official urges parents to vaccinate children ages 12-15, warns that restrictions on public activity might be reimposed.

Coronavirus czar: Israel negotiating for millions more vaccines

'We're waiting for FDA approval, vaccine seems safe and effective for children,' Prof. Nachman Ash says.

Coronavirus Czar: If all goes well we can reopen in a month

Prof. Nachman Ash says Health Ministry delaying reopening education system as a precaution to prevent an outbreak in schools.

COVID Czar: Things are looking good, but masks are still a must

Israel's coronavirus project chief upbeat about COVID statistics, but says mask mandate still needed outdoors.

Coronavirus Czar:

"We're checking whether vaccinated ppl 'get infected more'"

Prof Nachman Ash says vaccination of children 12 and older may commence 'in coming weeks,' after Emergency Use Authorization from the FDA.

Coronavirus Czar:

'No plans for extra restrictions during Passover'

Israel's top coronavirus official touts 'good infection numbers', says Israelis will be able to have 'reasonable' Passover celebrations.